Acceptance-based sleep program for Veterans with PTSD
Official title: A Novel Acceptance-based Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-11269164 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program combines behavioral sleep techniques with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help Veterans with PTSD who have chronic insomnia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003321-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11269164 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans with a clinical diagnosis of PTSD who also meet criteria for chronic insomnia disorder and can receive care at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.
✕Less likely to help
People without PTSD or without insomnia, those with untreated severe sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, or individuals unable or unwilling to engage in behavioral therapy are unlikely to benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
If you are a Veteran with PTSD who struggles to sleep, this treatment called ABC-I mixes proven sleep strategies (like sleep restriction, stimulus control, sleep hygiene, and relaxation) with ACT exercises to change how you relate to thoughts and feelings that interfere with sleep. The approach is delivered to Veterans through the VA team and tracks changes in sleep, daytime functioning, and PTSD symptoms over time. The researchers developed ABC-I specifically for Veterans with PTSD because standard insomnia approaches sometimes give smaller benefits in this group. Early pilot work with Veterans suggests the combined ACT and behavioral approach may produce stronger sleep gains than standard methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce insomnia severity, improve daytime functioning, and lessen PTSD-related distress for participating Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Standard CBT-I helps many people with insomnia but tends to have smaller effects in those with PTSD, and early pilot studies of ABC-I in Veterans have shown promising results though the approach is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martin, Jennifer L — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Martin, Jennifer L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Pimavanserin for Sleep Problems in Veterans with PTSD
This grant supports Dr. Melissa Jones to study a new medicine, pimavanserin, to help veterans with PTSD sleep better.
-
A new sleep-help approach for Veterans with PTSD
A new ACT-based insomnia treatment tailored for Veterans with PTSD aims to improve sleep and quality of life.
-
A new treatment for insomnia in veterans with PTSD
This study is testing a new way to help veterans with PTSD who have trouble sleeping by combining helpful sleep habits with a special therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, to see if it can improve their sleep quality.
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Using Pimavanserin to improve sleep in veterans with PTSD
This study is looking at how the medication Pimavanserin, usually used for Parkinson's disease, can help veterans with PTSD sleep better and feel less anxious, and it’s being led by Dr. Melissa Beth Jones.
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Cognitive behavioral therapy and trazodone for insomnia phenotypes with high blood pressure
A clinical study tests how CBT-I and the sleep drug trazodone work for adults with insomnia and high blood pressure, focusing on a specific sleep duration pattern.
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DESCANSO: A friendly CBT plan to ease depression, sleep problems, and fatigue in Latino cancer patients
A Spanish-speaking CBT program called DESCANSO is being tested to help Latino cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and happier.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.